The Rebels of the Fallen

Gridlock

'No rest for the wicked...' I thought, walking towards the console.

The Doctor was excitedly moving about, pushing up the right parts and twisting the rest. Martha watched, sitting in the pilot seat.

"Just one trip. That's what I said." The Doctor stated.

"You did say that, yeah." I mused, walking up behind him.

"One trip in the TARDIS, and then home." The Doctor agreed. He flipped a switch then looked to me. I gave him a gesture to go ahead. "Although I suppose we could stretch the definition."

Martha perked up.

"Take one trip into the past, one trip into the future." The Doctor offered. "How do you fancy that?"

"No complaints from me." Martha voted.

"Got nothing better to do." I added in.

The Doctor grinned at us both. He turned to the newest companion. "How about a different planet?" He offered.

"Can we go to yours?" Martha asked, wide eyed and full of glee.

The Doctor hesitated for a beat. I bit my lip, looking anywhere to avoid eye contact. "Ah, there's plenty of other places."

"Come on, though. I mean, planet of the Time Lords and Ladies." Martha suggested. "That's got to be worth a look. What's it like?"

"Well, it's beautiful, yeah." The Doctor confirmed hesitantly.

"...majestic." I agreed.

"Is it like, you know, outer space cities, all spires and stuff?" Martha guessed.

The Doctor glanced up at me. He looked back to the console, flipping switches. "I suppose it is."

Martha was still going on, sounding happier and happier as she went. "Great big temples and cathedrals!"

"Yeah."

I worried the skin of my lip. There weren't many memories of Gallifrey in my head. A small handful, left from looking in the heart of the TARDIS. Nothing more than what the Doctor would give soon.

Martha turned towards me. I tensed as I realized her next question. "Lots of planets in the sky?"

My voice stuck. There wasn't anything I wanted to say here- nothing that came with the ease of experience. The memories were vague, not completely there. I was aware of them, could see them in my mind. It was like staring through foggy glass. Still the memories were mine. Sharing them left a bitter taste in my mouth.

"The sky's a burnt orange." The Doctor revealed to save me. Martha turned to him, leaning on the rail around the console. "With the Citadel enclosed in a mighty glass dome, shining under the twin suns. Beyond that, the mountains go on forever. Slopes of deep red grass, capped with snow."

Something not unlike nostalgia came through me. A fond smile appeared on my face, the vague memories becoming brighter at his words. The pictures were clearer to see- the city standing amidst red fields, looking like a snowglobe on standstill.

"Can we go there?" Martha asked.

"Nah. Where's the fun for us? We don't want to go home." The Doctor countered.

It stole the air from my lungs. The clarity of the memories faded back. They hid behind pain, past and present. The kind of pain that refused to come out until a rainy day.

"Instead, this is much better. Year five billion and fifty-three, planet New Earth." The Doctor flipped another switch.

It sent the TARDIS to the side. I had to grip fast to a handrail to keep from flying.